The main theme of the conference was to levy the 2.5 per cent surtax in exchange for abolition of likin, which would benefit the powers and the Beijing government. The Beijing government proposed to abolish the likin no later than 1 January 1929, for which the powers would allow the interim surtax on ordinary goods and a higher percentage on luxury goods such as wine and tobacco.

On the other side, under the lee of the sand-ridge, which was their usual point of separation, he endured for some moments the beard-raspings of indecision, frowning about the landscape and down at Cora.

I own three or four low, fretworked Chinese tables of various heights that I found at flea markets; the top of each is about the size of a standard box of tissues or a little serving tray.

The denudation of the land was upon a grand scale. All superficial accumulations were swept away, and the bedrock was exposed.